Apparatus and method for forming a can wrapper having side and end chime tabs about a group of cans



May 31, 1966 P. J. WOOD 3,253,381

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING A CAN WRAPPER HAVING SIDE AND END CHIME TABS ABOUT A GROUP OF CANS Filed Jan. 7, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 co Li.

' I m 2 L m 1 ml E B INVENTOR.

PRENTICE J. WOOD ATTORNEY y 31, 1966 P. J. WOOD 3,253,331

R HAVING SIDE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING A CAN WRAPPE AND END CHIME TABS ABOUT A GROUP OF CANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 7, 1963 Ill FIG. 9

INVENTOR. PR ENTICE J. WOOD AT TORNEY May 31, 1966 P. J. WOOD 3,253,381

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING A CAN WRAPPER HAVING SIDE AND END CHIME TABS ABOUT A GROUP OF CANS Filed Jan. 7, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 PRENTICE J. WOOD ATTORNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY P. J. WOOD PRE NTIC E. J. WOOD I I I I May 31, 1966 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING A CAN WRAPPER HAVING SIDE AND END CHIME TABS ABOUT A GROUP OF CANS Filed Jan. 7, 1963 May 31, 1966 P. J. woon 3,253,381

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING A CAN WRAPPER HAVING SIDE AND END CHIME TABS ABOUT A GROUP OF CANS Filed' Jan. 7, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGH INVENTOR.

PRENTICE J. WOOD ATTORNEY United States Patent f 3,253,381 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING A CAN WRAPPER HAVING SIDE AND END CHIME TABS AEGUT A GROUP OF CANS Prentice J. Wood, .Ionesboro, Ga, assignor to The Mead Corporation, a corporation of Ohio Filed Jan. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 249,779 11 Claims. (Cl. 53--32) This invention relates to an apparatus and method for forming a can wrapper having side and end chime tabs about a group of cans and more particularly to a special apparatus and method for manipulating the chime tabs of a wrapper in such a way as to cause the tabs to engage the ends of certain packaged cans and to force the chimes into corners of the package thereby to hold the packaged cans securely. In addition the invention is concerned with the folding and doubling back on themselves of tabs which engage the sides of the packaged cans along the medial portion of the wrapper in such a way that the ends of the tabs hold the can chimes fiat against the panel of the wrapper adjacent the can ends and from which such tabs are struck.

United States Patent 2,768,741 issued October 30, 1956, on an application filed November 3, 1954, by Grover C. Currie discloses and claims an arrangement wherein a wrapper-type can carrier is provided at its corners with chime receiving slits and wherein certain tabs struck out of the top and bottom panels of the wrapper are folded inwardly through one hundred eighty (180) degrees to engage the ends of the cans and the chimes to hold the can chimes in the corner slits. Security of the packaged items together with stability of the package is further enhanced by doubled back tabs struck out of the bottom and top of the carrier along the medial part thereof, such doubled back tabs being disposed along the sides of the cans and in engagement with the can chimes. Such tabs prevent the chimes of the cans in one row from riding over the chimes of the adjacent cans in the other row. A flat secure package with stable stacking characteristics is thus achieved.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus and method for rapidly and efficiently manipulating the can chime end and side tabs such as are referred to above.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved apparatus and method which are especially adapted for use in connection with high speed packaging of a can carrier having side and end chime engaging tabs.

The invention in one form as applied to a high speed automatic packaging operation wherein a wrapper-type blank is applied to a group of cans to be packaged comprises means for moving a group of cans to be packaged in two rows along a predetermined path, means for moving a wrapper-type blank in spaced relation to the group of articles, a tab folder which moves in synchronism with the group of articles and with the wrapper for initially folding the side and end tabs out of the top panel of the wrapper, a rib for supporting the top panel of the carrier medially of the carrier and adjacent to the fold line of the can side tabs, a primary guide having a folding surface for moving the side chime tabs into a position approximately normal to the top panel of the wrapper and also having a positioning surface for holding the side chime tab approximately normal to the top panel of the wrapper, a secondary guide having a surface which is configured to fold the can side tabs in the opposite direction from the direction in which they are folded by the primary guides so as to cause the tabs to double back on themselves, and means for folding the can end tabs inwardly ice and through approximately one hundred eighty degrees and in a direction away from the .center line of the top panel and toward the side panels of the carton. Of course, conventional means are used to complete the package about the group of articles to be packaged therein.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a high speed packaging machine of the type to which this invention is applicable; FIG. 2 is a side view of a package formed by the machine depicted schematically in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is an end view of the package shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a plan view of a blank used to form the package depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 by the machine depicted in FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a view from above of a portion of the machine depicted in FIG. 1 taken approximately along the vantage line designated at 55 in FIG. 1 and showing certain essential elements of the apparatus constructed according to this invention; FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the line designated 6-6 in FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view ofthe mechanism depicted in FIG. 5 together with additional structure not shown in FIG. 5; FIG. 8 is a plan view of the mechanism as depicted in FIG. 7 and showing certain essential elements constructed according to this invention; FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of the apparatus constructed according to this invention and taken along the line designated at 9-9 in FIG. 7; FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 but showing the can side and end tabs in the positions which they occupy in a completed package; and in which FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 10.

With reference to the package and its wrapper as depicted in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the numeral 1 designates the wrapper top panel while the numerals 2 and 3 designate the side panels of the wrapper which are foldably joined respectively to top panel 1 along fold lines 4 and 5. The bottom of the wrapper is a composite panel comprising a lap panel 6 folda'bly joined to the bottom edge of side panel 2 along fold line 7 and another lap panel 8 which is foldably joined to the bottom edge of side panel 3 along fold line 9. Disposed along the bottom portion of the wrapper is a medial strut designated by the numeral 10. This strut is foldably joined to lap panel 6 along fold line 11.

For the purpose of securing the lap panels 6 and 8 together so as to form an open end wrapper, locking tabs 12 and 13 are formed in lap panel 8 and are forced through the openings defined by retaining tags 14 and '15, respectively, formed in lap panel 6. The wrapper as described above is formed about a package group as described and claimed in US. Patent 2,786,572 issued March 26, 1957, on an application filed by Hermond G. Gentry and owned by the assignee of this invention.

In order to tighten the wrapper about a group of articles, tightening apertures 16 and 17 are formed in lap panel 8 and similar tightening apertures 18 and 19 are formed in lap panel 6. As is well understood, machine elements enter these tightening apertures 16- 19 and move toward each other underneath the article group. After the wrapper is tightened other machine elements drive the locking tabs .12 and 13 through the openings defined by the retaining tabs 14 and 1-5, respectively.

For receiving the chimes of the packaged can-s, corner slits 20, 2'1 and 22 are formed along the fold line 7 and similar slits 23, 24 and 25 are formed along the fold line 4. In like fashion slits 26, 27 and 28 are formed along the ifold line 5 and similar slits 29, 30 and 31 are formed along the fold line 9. Slits 2031 perform a can holdinglfunction which is Well known in the art.

As is described and claimed in the aforementioned Currie Patent 2,768,741, can end tab 32 is folded inwardly along hinge line 33 so that the tab 32 lies fiat against the adjacent can and the outwardly projecting edge 34 thereof causes the can chime of the adjacent can to be held securely within the corner slit 23.

In like fashion can end chimes 35, 36 and 37 cooperate, respectively, with the slits 25, 26 and 28. Similarly can end tabs 38 and 39 cooperate with corner slits and 22 while can end tabs 40 and 41 formed in lap panel 8 cooperate with slits 29 and 31, respectively. One facet of the present invention has to do with the eflicient and rapid manipulation of end tabs such as tab 32 inwardly of the panel 1 about the hinge line 33.

To facilitate the ready opening of the package depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, a pull tab 42 may be formed in top panel 1 and a plurality of opening slits 43 may be formed in side wall 3. Thus, the tab 42 is pulled outwardly and simply tears the side panel 3 along the slit lines 43 enabling the ultimate user to break open the package and gain access to the packaged cans. The pull tabs 42 and slits 43 form no part of the present invention.

For the purpose of facilitating carrying of the package depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, a pair of finger tabs 44 and 45 are struck out of the top panel 1 and may be folded inwardly along hinge lines 46 and 47, respectively.

In order to secure the top panel 1 of the carrier fiat against the ends of the packaged cans such as are designated at C1 and C2 in FIG. 3, a plurality of can side tabs are struck out of the top panel 1. Such tabs are shown in FIG. 4 and are designated by the numerals 48, 49, 50, 51 and 52. Tabs 48, 50 and 51 are similar in construction while tabs 49 and 52 are similar to each other. For example tab 48 is struck out of panel 1 and is foldably joined thereto along line 53. A transverse fold line 54 is formed in tab 48. In like fashion, tab 50 is foldable inwardly along the hinge line 55 and is provided with a transverse fold line 56. Tab 51 is provided with a hinge line 57 and a transverse fold line 58. The hinge line for tab 49 coincides with hinge line 53, the hinge line for tab 49 being offset medially of the carton somewhat as shown. Tab 49 has a transverse fold line 58A while tab 52 is provided with a transverse fold line 59. As can best be seen in FIG. 3, the tab 51 is doubled back on itself along the transverse fold line 58 so that the outer extremity designated by the numeral 60 of tab 51 abuts the chime of can C2 and thereby holds top panel 1 snugly against the end of can C2. In like fashion tab 52 is doubled back on its transverse fold line 59 so that its extreme outer edge 61 abuts the upper chime of can C1 and thereby holds the top panel 1 securely against the end of can C1. Chime side tabs 48 and 49 function in a manner identical to tabs 52 and 51, respectively, and a detailed description thereof is not deemed necessary. Center tab 50 performs in a manner identical to tabs 51 and 48, it being obvious that the wrapper depicted in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 is shown in connection with a package of six cans comprising two rows of three cans each. One facet of this invention has to do with the efficient manipulation of can side tabs designated by the numerals 48, 49, 50, 51 and 52.

A machine of the type to which this invention is especially applicable is disclosed and claimed in US. Patent 2,751,730 issued June 26, 1956, and owned by the assignee of this invention. A machine of the general type to which the invention is applicable is shown from the side in FIG. 1 in schematic form. As shown in FIG. 1, the machine comprises a frame 62 on which is mounted a schematically depicted hopper 63. Carton blanks of the type shown in FIG. 4 are stacked in the hopper 63 and are designated by the numeral 64. The blanks 64 are fed from the hopper 63 in any suitable manner such for example as is disclosed and claimed in US. Patent 2,817,520 issued December 24, 1957, and owned by the assignee of this invention.

The cans designated variously by the letter C are fed in on a conveyor from the left as viewed in FIG. 1. The cans are separated into groups of six cans comprising two rows of three cans each by means of plungers schematically designated at 65 and mounted on a continuous chain 66. Chain 66 is rotatable about sprockets 67, 68, 69 and 70 which are rotatably mounted on the frame of the machine. Sprockets are driven by motive means not shown in FIG. 1 in known manner. As the cans move from left to right the plungers 65 engage a cam surface (not shown) which causes the plungers to move inwardly into separating relation with respect to the cans. Chain 66A mounted on sprockets 67A and 70A support elements 65A and function in a manner similar to chain 66 and associated parts.

For the purpose of moving the carton blanks from left to right in general synchronism with the can groups, a continuous chain 71 is mounted on sprockets 72, 73,

74 and 75. These sprockets are driven by suitable motive means not shown. Mounted at spaced intervals along the chain 71 are a plurality of hook-like elements 76. The hook-like elements 76 simply engage the trailing edge of the blanks such as B1, B2, B3, B4 and cause the blanks to move from left to right as is well known.

As is more fully disclosed in the aforementioned Patent 2,751,730, the side panels designated in the drawings by the numerals 2 and 3 are folded downwardly along the sides of a particular package group with the top panel 1 resting atop the group. This stage of folding is depicted schematically in FIG. 1 via the blank B5. A subsequent stage of folding is depicted in conjunction with the blank B6. After the bottom panels 6 and 8 are locked in overlapping relation the package is complete as depicted at B7.

The package groups are moved from left to right during certain of the folding operations by means of a conveyor belt designated by the numeral 77 which is mounted on pulleys 78 and 79 which in turn are rotatably mounted on the frame of the machine and at least one of which is driven by motive means not shown in FIG. 1.

In order to hold the blanks securely atop the package groups, a boom is provided and is designated by the numeral 80 and on which a plurality of rubber feet are movably mounted on conveyor means which moves about sprockets 81 and 82. The feet are not shown in detail but simply form parts of a continuous conveyor depicted schematically by the numeral 83. The conveyor 83 is driven by motive means in known manner.

For the purpose of manipulating the can end and side tabs in accordance with this invention, a shaft 84 is rotatably mounted on brackets 85 secured to the frame of the machine and driven by chain 86 from a sprocket rotatable with sprocket 82 and driven by suitable motive means in known manner.

With reference to FIG. 5 shaft 84 is provided with tab side folder element 87 and end folder elements 88, 89, 90 and 91. As can best be seen in FIG. 5, end folder elements 88 and 91 are provided, respectively, with a pair of folding studs 92, 93, 94 and 95. As viewed in FIG. 5 movement of the cartons is toward the top of the page. Thus, end folder 88 is arranged so that folding stud 92 engages end tab 41 on each carton and folder stud 93 en gages end tab 40. In like fashion, folding stud 95 engages end tab 38 and folding stud 94 engages end tab 39. These folds are made in synchronism as will be apparent from FIG. 5.

Simultaneously with the folding of the tabs in the bottom panels 6 and 8 the end tabs in top panel 1 are folded. This, of course, is accomplished by the folding elements 89 and 90. Mounted on folder element 89 are folding studs 96 and 97 which engage respectively the end tabs 37 and 36 .while folding studs 98 and 99 enga e the end tabs 35 and 32. After the initial folding operation is performed, for example, by folding studs 9699, a fixed folding cam designated by the numeral 100 and best shown in .5 FIG. 1 engages these tabs and folds them over approximately one hundred eighty (180) degrees toward the sides 2 and 3 of each carton.

For the purpose of supporting the hinge lines 53, 55 and 57 of the can side tabs 48, 49, 50, 51 and 52, a rib 101 is mounted immediately underneath the hinge lines. This rib is best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

The initial downward folding of the can side tabs 4-85 1 is effected by folder 87 on which folding studs 102, 103 are mounted. As is best shown in FIG. 5 folding stud 2 engages tab 51 while stud 103 engages side tab '52. Rotation of shaft 84 causes the tabs 51 and 52 to be folded down alongside of rib 101 below the plane of top panel 1. After this initial folding operation is completed, further folding of tabs 51 and 52 into a position approximately normal to the plane of panel 1 is effected by the primary guide generally designated by the numeral '104. Primary guide 104 is provided with a folding surface 105 which cooperates with the tab 51 while a similar folding surface 106 cooperates with the tab 5 2. As a particular wrapper moves from left to right as viewed in FIGS. 7 and 8 and clears the right-hand extremity 107 of the rib 101, the tabs 51 and 52 are in approximately a vertical position. These tabs are maintained in the vertical position by positioning surfaces 109 and 110, the downward movement toward the vertical position of the tabs 51 and 52 having been effected due to the fact that the folding surfaces 105 and 106 converge horizontally as shown in FIG. 8 and also slope downwardly as depicted in FIG. 7.

For the purpose of causing the tabs 51 and 52 to double b ack on themselves along their respective fold lines 58 and 59 a secondary guide is provided. The secondary guide is designated in FIGS. 7 and 8 by the numeral 111. Secondary guide 111 is provided with a pair of diverging guide surfaces 112 and 113. Such diverging surfaces are shown in FIG. 9 as well as in FIG. 8. Thus, with the tabs 51 and 52 positioned as depicted in FIG. 9 and with the cans C1 and C2 spaced apart somewhat, the tabs 51 and 52 simply move between the cans C1 and C2. As the movement toward the right continues the finished relationship appears as depicted in FIG. 10 with the extremities of the side chime engaging tabs as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 10. Also as depicted in FIG. 10 the end tab 35 is shown as riding over the top of can C1 causing its chime to be securely held within the cooperating slit 23.

The manipulation of side tabs 48 and 4 9 is identical to that of side tabs 51 and 52, respectively, and a detailed explanation thereof is not deemed necessary. In like fashion, manipulation of tab 50 is identical to the folding of tabs 48 and 51 and a detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

From the description above it is apparent that by the invention an improved apparatus and method are provided whereby the end tabs of a carton such as end tabs 32, 35, 36, 37, 38, 3 9, 40 and 41 are efficiently manipulated to occupy positions such as are depicted by the tab 35 in FIG. 10 and simultaneously the side tabs such as 48, 49, 50, 51 and 52 are manipulated so as to occupy positions depicted by tabs 51 and 52. The result is an efficiently formed and secure package which constitutes a secure means for holding the cans such as C1 and 02 within the wrapper so as to prevent the accidental removal of the cans from the ends of the wrapper. In addition, the side tabs hold the cans secure in a common plane so that the chimes of the cans in one row do not ride over the chime-s of the adjacent cans in the other row and so that a carton having stable stacking characteristics is provided.

While I have shown and described a particular method and apparatus, I do not wish to be limited thereto and intend in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope f the invention.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Apparatus for folding a tab struck from and folded along a hinge line out of the plane of a fiat panel to a position generally normal to said panel and into doubled back relation on itself along a transverse fold line, said apparatus comprising means for imparting movement along a predetermined path to said panel in a direction generally parallel to the plane thereof and to said hinge line, a fixed primary guide disposed adjacent one side of the path of movement of said panel and spaced from said hinge line in a direction transverse to the path of movement of said panel and parallel to the plane thereof, said primary guide having a folding surface which converges toward said hinge line in the direction of movement of said panel and generally parallel to the plane of said panel so as to swing said tab toward a position approaching a normal position relative to the plane of said panel, and a fixed secondary guide disposed on the same side of the path of movement of said panel as said primary guide, said secondary guide having a guide surface which is engageable initially by the extremity of said tab and which diverges in a direction opposite generally to the direction of convergence of said folding surface so as to tend to cause said extremity of said tab to double back on itself along its transverse fold line, said guide surface having a part which is more remote from the path of movement of said panel than said primary guide at the time of initial engagement thereof by the extremity of said tab and having a part which curves toward the path of movement of said panel to occupy a position closer to the path of movement thereof than said primary guide.

2. Apparatus for folding a tab struck from and folded along a hinge line out of the plane of a flat panel and into doubled back relation on itself along a transverse fold line, said apparatus comprising means for imparting movement along a predetermined path to said panel in a direction generally parallel to the plane thereof and to said hinge line, a fixed primary guide disposed adjacent one side of the path of movement of said panel and spaced from said hinge line in a direction transverse to the path of movement of said panel and parallel to the plane thereof, said primary guide having a folding surface which converges toward said hinge line in the direction of movement of said panel and generally parallel to the plane of said panel so as to swing said tab toward a position approaching a normal position relative to the plane of said panel and a tab positioning guide surface generally parallel to the path of movement of said panel for holding said tab in a position generally normal to said panel, and a fixed secondary guide disposed on the same side of the path of movement of said panel as said primary guide, said secondary guide having a guide surface which is engageable initially by the extremity of said tab and which is configured 'in a divergent direction relative to said folding surface so as to tend to cause said extremity of said tab to double back on itself along its transverse fold line against said positioning guide surface and which subsequently converges toward said panel so as to tend to complete the doubled back folding of said tab.

3. Apparatus for folding a tab struck from and folded along a hinge line out of the plane of a flat panel and into doubled back relation on itself along a transverse fold line, said apparatus comprising means for imparting movement to said panel in a direction generally parallel to the plane thereof and to said hinge line, a fixed primary guide disposed adjacent one side of the plane of said panel and spaced from said hinge line in a direction transverse to the path of movement of said panel and parallel to the plane thereof, said primary guide having a folding surface which converges toward said hinge line in the direction of movement of said panel so as to swing said tab toward a position approaching a normal position relative to the plane of said panel, said primary guide having a tab positioning guide surface generally parallel to the path of movement of said panel for holding said tab in a position generally normal to said panel, and a fixed secondary guide disposed on the same side of the path of movement of said panel as said primary guide, said secondary guide having a guide surface which is engageable initially by the extremity of said tab and which diverges in a direction opposite generally to the direction of convergence of said primary guide surface so as to tend to cause said extremity of said tab to double back on itself along its transverse fold line and against said positioning guide surface.

4. Apparatus for folding a can carton chime side tab out of a carton panel from which itis struck and into doubled back relation, said apparatus comprising a fixed support rib, means for moving a carton along said rib with the base of said tab adjacent thereto, a tab folder disposed adjacent the path of movement of the carton and on the opposide side thereof from said rib, said folder being operable in general synchronism with movement of the carton so as to engage said tab and fold it out of the carton panel from which it is struck and generally toward said rib, a fixed primary guide having a guide surface which is spaced from said rib and from said folder in a direction generally transverse to the path of movement of the carton and which converges in the direction of carton movement so as to continue folding said tab in the direction initiated by said folder, and a fixed secondary guide disposed in spaced relation from said primary guide in a direction normal to the plane of said panel and having a guide surface which diverges in a direction opposite from the direction of convergence of said primary guide so as to engage and cause the extremity of said tab to tend to double back on itself.

5. Apparatus for folding a can carton chimeside tab out of a carton panel from which it is struck and into doubled back relation, said apparatus comprising a fixed support rib, means for moving a carton along said rib with the base of said tab adjacent thereto, a tab folder disposed adjacent the path of movement of the carton and on the opposite side thereof from said rib, said folder being operable in general synchronism with movement of the carton so as to engage said tab and fold it out of the carton panel from which it is struck and generally toward said rib, a fixed primary guide having a guide surface which is spaced from said rib and from said folder in a direction generally transverse to the path of movement of the carton and which constitutes a positioning guide surface generally parallel to the path of movement of said carton for holding said tab in a position generally normal to said panel, and a fixed secondary guide disposed in spaced relation from said primary guide in a direction normal to the plane of said panel and having a guide surface which diverges in a direction opposite from the direction of convergence of said primary guide so as to engage and cause the extremity of said tab to tend to double back on itself and against said positioning guide surface.

6. Apparatus for folding a can carton chime side tab out of a carton panel from which it is struck and into doubled back relation, said apparatus comprising a fixed support rib, means for moving a carton along said rib with the base of said tab adjacent thereto, a tab folder disposed adjacent the path of movement of the carton and on the opposite side thereof from said rib, said folder being operable in general synchronism with movement of the carton so as to engage said tab and fold it out of the carton panel from which it is struck and generally toward said rib, a fixed primary guide having a guide surface which is spaced from said rib and from said folder in a direction generally transverse to the path of movement of the carton and which constitutes a positioning guide surface generally parallel to the path of movement of said carton for holding said tab in a position generally normal to said panel, and a fixed secondary guide disposed in direction of convergence of said primary guide so as to engage and cause the extremity of said tab to tend to double back on itself and against said positioning guide surface initially and which subsequently converges toward said panel so as to tend to complete the double back folding of said tab.

7. Apparatus for folding a pair'of tabs out of a panel from which they are struck and into back-to-back doubled relation along generally coincidental fold lines, said apparatus comprising a fixed support rib, means for moving said panel along said rib with said fold lines disposed in parallel relation and immediately adjacent said rib, a pair of tab folders disposed adjacent the path of movement of the panel and on the side thereof opposite from said rib, said folders being operable in general synchronism with movement of the panel so as to engage said tabs respectively and fold them along opposite sides of said rib, a fixed primary guide disposed adjacent said rib and having a pair of folding surfaces which converge toward each other in the direction of panel movement and which are engageable respectively by said tabs as to continue the folding initiated by said tab folders, and a secondary guide having a pair of spaced guide surfaces which diverge initially in directions opposite from the directions of convergence of said folding surfaces respectively for initiating the doubling back folding of said tabs.

8. Apparatus for folding a pair of tabs out of a panel from which they are struck and into back-to-back doubled relation along generally coincidental fold lines, said apparatus comprising a fixed support rib, means for moving said panel along said rib with said fold lines disposed in parallel relation and immediately adjacent said rib, a pair of tab folders disposed adjacent the path of movement of the panel and on the side thereof opposite from said rib, said folders being operable in general synchronism with movement of the panel so as to engage said tabs respectively and fold them along opposite sides of said rib, a fixed primary guide disposed adjacent said rib and having a pair of folding surfaces which converge toward each other in the direction of panel movement and which are engageable respectively by said tabs so as to continue the folding initiated by said tab folders, and a secondary guide having a pair of spaced guide surfaces which diverge initially in directions opposite from the directions of convergence of said folding surfaces respectively for initiating the doubling back folding of said tabs and which subsequently converge toward the path of movement of the panel to continue the doubling back of said tabs, the later convergence of said secondary guide surfaces causing folding of said tabs against different surfaces respectively of said primary guide.

9. Apparatus for folding a pair of tabs out of a panel from which they are struck and into back-to-back doubled relation along generally coincidental fold lines, said apparatus comprising a fixed support rib, means for moving said panel along said rib with said fold lines disposed in parallel relation and immediately adjacent said rib, a pair of tab folders disposed adjacent the path of movement of the panel and on the side thereof opposite from said rib, said folders being operable in general synchronism with movement of the panel so as to engage said tabs respectively and fold them along opposite sides of said rib, a fixed primary guide disposed adjacent said rib and having a pair of positioning surfaces generally parallel to the path of movement of the panel for holding said tabs in predetermined positions respectively relative to the panel, and a secondary guide having a pair of spaced guide surfaces which diverge intially in directions opposite from the directions of convergence of said folding surfaces respectively for initiating the doubling back folding of said tabs and generally about said positioning surfaces respectively.

10. Apparatus for folding can carton chime side and end tabs out of a carton panel from which they are struck and into positions adapted for predetermined engagement with the chimes of cans packaged in the carton,

said apparatus comprising a fixed support rib, means for moving a carton along said rib with the base of said side tab adjacent and in generally parallel relation to said rib, a pair of folders disposed adjacent the path of movement of the carton and on the side thereof opposite said rib, said folders being operable in general synchronism with movement of the carton so as to engage said tabs respectively and fold them out of the carton panel, and side tab guide means for doubling said side tab back on itself and into a position of engagement with the side of a can packaged in the carton with the extremity of said side tab inengagement with the chime of the can so as to hold the panel from which said tabs are struck against the end of the can, and end tab guide means for folding said end tab approximately one hundred eighty (180) degrees out of the panel from which it is struck and into a position of engagement with the end of said can with the end tab engaging the can chime at the end thereof so as to hold the can against movement in one direction parallel to the plane of said panel.

11. A method of forming a Wrapper having can side and end tabs in at least one .panel about a group of two rows of cans, said method comprising moving the group of cans along a predetermined path with their axes parallel, moving a wrapper in spaced relation to the path of movement of the cans and with said one panel of the wrapper generally opposite one end of the cans of the group, folding said side and end tabs toward the cans while the Wrapper is spaced therefrom, doubling back said side tabs outwardly and folding said end tabs inwardly through approximately one hundred eighty degrees, moving the blank toward the group of cans so as to cause said one panel to come into general registry with the ends of the cans with said side tabs disposed between the two rows and with said end tabs respectively engaging the corresponding ends respectively of the cans, folding and tightening the wrapper about the group of cans so as to cause said side tabs to engage the sides and chimes respectively of the adjacent cans and so as to cause said end tabs to engage the ends of the cans respectively.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,933,867 4/1960 Gentry 53-48 XR 2,953,070 9/1960 Dunning 53-48 XR 2,974,454 3/1961 Andre et al. 53-48 XR 2,986,857 6/1961 Ganz 5348 FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Examiner.

A. E. FOURNIER, R. L. FARRIS, Assistant Examiners. 

11. A METHOD OF FORMING A WRAPPER HAVING CAN SIDE AND END TABS IN AT LEAST ONE PANEL ABOUT A GROUP OF TWO ROWS OF CANS, SAID METHOD COMPRISING MOVING THE GROUP OF CANS ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH WITH THEIR AXES PARALLEL, MOVING A WRAPPER IN SPACED RELATION TO THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF THE CANS AND WITH SAID ONE PANEL OF THE WRAPPER GENERALLY OPPOSITE ONE END OF THE CANS OF THE GROUP, FOLDING SAID SIDE AND END TABS TOWARD THE CANS WHILE THE WRAPPER IS SPACED THEREFROM, DOUUBLING BACK SAID SIDE TABS OUUTWARDLY AND FOLDING SAID END TABS INWARDLY THROUGH APPROXIMATELY OEN HUNDRED EITHTY (180) DEGREES, MOVING THE BLANK TOWARD HE GROUP OF CANS SO AS TO CAUSE SAID ONE PANEL TO COME INTO GENERAL REGISTRY WITH THE ENDS OF THE CANS WITH SAID SIDE TABS DISPOSED BETWEEN THE TWO ROWS AND WITH SAID END TABS RESPECTIVELY ENGAGING THE CORRESPONDING END RESPECTIVELY OF THE CANS, FOLDING AND TIGHTENING THE WRAPPER ABOUT THE GROUP OF CANS SO AS TO CAUSE SAID SIDE TABS TO ENGAGE THE SIDES AND CHIMES RESPECTIVELY OF THE ADJACENT CANS AND SO AS TO CAUSE SAID END TABS TO ENGAGE THE ENDS OF THE CANS RESPECTIVELY. 